Skin-diver&#39;s bracelet



Aug. 24, 1965 R. M KINSTRIE SKIN-DIVER'S BRACELET Filed Feb. 14, 1963 A n- I. I. I. I. no I INVENTOR. A 086???" M A M67706 United States Patent 3,202,331 SKlN-DIVERS BRACELET Robert McKinstrie, 14584 Faust, Detroit 23, Mich. Filed Feb. 14, 1963, Ser- No. 258,527 1 Claim. (Cl. 224-28) This invention relates to a bathers or skindivers bracelet, and has for its object the provision of an improved bracelet of unitary construction which may be easily and firmly secured to the wrist, is readily opened and closed, and yet provides a completely waterproof container for keys, coins, bills, or other small objects.

A further object is to provide an improved bracelet of such construction that it may be molded in one piece by injection molding, yet which includes all of the desirable features of such devices such as water-tightness, easily openable cover, adjustable and easily secured wrist strap and relatively large storage space.

In the drawings accompanying this specification:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my improved bracelet with the cover open as it appears in position on a persons wrist;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the device on a somewhat enlarged scale and showing details of the wristsecuring strap and securing means;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the container portion of the bracelet, with the cover closed and showing an object within the container portion in broken lines;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view along line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a detail of the strap fastening means taken on line 55 of FIG. 2.

As can be seen from the drawings, the bracelet comprises a body portion having a cover 12 secured thereto by means of a flexible connecting portion 14 and two strap portions 16 and 18. The strap portion 18 is provided with a number of integral substantially sphereshaped projections 20 which are adapted to be received in the openings 22 in the strap portion 16 to secure the bracelet on a human wrist as illustrated in FIG. 1. By providing several projections and several holes for receiving same, each being uniformly spaced, the strap may be securely fastened on wrists of varying thickness.

The body portion 10 is provided with a rounded peripheral lip 24 integrally formed thereon which is adapted to be received by and mate wtih an integral, peripheral, inwardly directed lip 26 on the inside of the cover portion 12, such that when the cover is closed, such as in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cover is firmly secured in place and an absolutely leakproof container is provided.

An enlarged protruding tab 28 is formed on the cover for assisting in opening and closing the cover. The con necting portion 14 forms a hinge between the body and cover and is integral with both of those portions.

As is apparent from FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the body and cover are recessed slightly at 30 and 32 respectively to provide room for the hinge portion 14 when the cover is in closed position, thus presenting a neat appearance minimizing stretch of the hinge. This feature is not 3,202,331 Patented Aug. 24, 1965 necessary to the operation of the device and may be omitted if desired.

The bracelet has been designed for production as a single piece, finished product by plastic molding technique and as a result thereof, it is extremely economical to produce, presents a neat and attractive appearance, and requires no assembly or machining upon being removed from the mold.

Because the plastic material is flexible in nature after processing, the hinge 14 is designed to be stressed slightly when the cover is closed, the lips 24 and 26 will yield slightly when the cover is opened and closed, and the projections 20 and holes 22 will yield to accommodate fastening and unfastening of the strapall Without undue effort on the part of the user and without tearing or damage to the article itself.

While the shape of the container has been shown as oblong, a round, rectangular or other shape may be used.

The precise type of plastic molding material to be used in making the bracelet may vary as may the precise dimensions, thicknesses, etc. The material must, of course, be moisture-proof; it must possess: the required degree of flexibility when processed, and it may be trans parent or opaque as desired. I have found that heat hardenable plastic material with a finished thickness of .045" to .050" for the body, .030 for the cover, and .035 for the strap portions, is quite satisfactory.

I claim:

As a new article of manufacture, a bracelet or the like adapted to be worn when bathing or skin-diving comprising, a body portion of substantially cup-like configuration, a mating cover portion of similar configuration, the edges of said cup-like body and cover portions being arranged to overlie one another when said cover is assembled on said body portion, mutually opposed interlocking lips extending continuously around the edges of said body and cover portions to form a snap-type closure fastener and to seal the body interior when the cover is in its closed position, thereby providing a moisture-proof receptacle, said body and cover portions being attached by a strap-like hinge portion, said body portion having strap portions extending oppositely therefrom and having mating fastening means for attaching the body portion to a human wrist, the entire article being of unitary, integral, molded construction of flexible, moisture-proof material.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,325,607 12/19 Barber 224282 1,486,178 3/24 Antelmi 224-28.2 1,508,940 9/24 Sedransky 22428.2 1,573,239 2/26 Gilliland 22428.2 1,748,609 2/ 30 Lester 2244.4 2,473,226 6/49 Sheldon 22228.2

HUGO O. SCHULTZ, Primary Examiner. 

